Power-driven lawn mower



J. A. E. CARLSON POWER DRIVEN LAWN. MOWER Filed July` 12,. 1926 4`Sheets-Shed` l/ INVENTO'. 8

A TTORNEY` June 24, v1930.

J. A. E. CARLSON POWER DRIVN LAWN MOWER `Filed July 125.1926

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR.

" @t2 M www ATTORNEYS` l f 4. A. E. CARLSON POWER DRIVEN LAWN MOWER: y

- 4 snets-sheet 4 June 24, .1930. l

' Filed .vmy 124. 152s INVENTOR.

Patented June l2.4, c1930 Jomr a n causen', or-nacnm, wisconsin,

Assmiron ro JAconsEN mia-co., or

anemia, wrscoNsm, A coaroaa'rron or wrscoNsIN rowEa-namn LAWN xownn- YApplication lied July 12,

This invention relates to` power driven mowers such as` are used forcutting lawns".

j One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improvedpower mower of i; the c aracter referred to with means for readilyconnecting and disconnecting the 4supporting ytraction means and thecutting reel or element to. and from the' driving motor, and whereinsuch means has advantages 1g over the various constructions usedhereto-F fore as regards compactness, simplicity and ruggedness ofconstruction, and flexibility of operation. Y i

Other objects and-advantages will herein- 15 after appean j Y' y For thepurpose of illustrating the invention, one embodiment Athereof is shownin the drawings, in'which:

\ Figure 1' is` a. plan view kof 'a power 2o driven lawn -mower partly.brokerraway and :some of the parts being removed for the sake ofclearness;

Fig. 2 is a -fragmentaryxplan view of a portion of the handle of a mowertaken from a the'left end; v v y Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view ofanother rtion of the handle of the mower taken rom the left end; j

` Fig. 4 is aside elevational view of one side '30 of the, mower, partlysection and partly broken away;

Fig. 5 is yan elevational view of the other side of the mower;

Fig.'6 is a lan view partly in section of the transmission arrangementof the mower, the section being j 'taA en on 'the line 6 -6 in Fig. 4.

he frame ofthe machine includes the side frame members and 11'he1d infixed spaced relation with respect to each other attheir forward ends12n havin its ends, reduced and passed throught e latter and threaded toreceive the fastening nuts 13 and 14, and at their rear ends by asimilar reenforcing brace bar 15 havin its ends reduced and passedthrough t ese ends and threaded to receive the fastenin Vnuts 16and17. Across piece 18 rectan ua-r in cross section is arran ed 50 transv ofmembers 10 and 11=and as plained hereinafter.

by the reenforcing brace bary 192e.Y serial No. 121,764. I its endsreduced and passed through the latter and threaded to receive thefastening nuts 19 and 20. A similar'cross piece 21 is spaced rearwardlyfrom cross piece 18 and arranged parallel-thereto, with its ends alsoextend- 5 ed` through members 10 and 11 andy thread-` ed to receive thefastening nuts 22. As shown 1n Figures 1, 4 and 7, a pair of corresondin ly shaped saddles 26 and 27 are Ilaterally spaced with respect toeach other cured lto the cross pieces 18 and 21 by means of bolts 28. Atwo-part transmission housing 23 is mounted on the saddles andsecuredthereto by bolts 29 which cooperate with spaced lugs 30 on thesaddles and correspond-A -35 I mgly spaced lugs 31 on thel housing. Asuitablemotor, designated generally by the reference numeral 32, andwhich maybe an internal combustion engine of any suitable constructionisarranged with its base 33 extend- 70 ing across the cross pieces 18`and21 VVand se'- cured thereto by bolts 34. yThe motor is provided with theiywheels 36 and 37 fixed on the'cra'nk shaft thereof and has one end ofthe crank shaft extending through the ad- 75 jacent side of casing 23,asmore clearly 'shown in Fig. 6, 'and havingiixed thereto a gear 38. Thecutting reel 39 of usual' constructi-on is disposedv between the forwardand 11 and is pro- 80 ends of frame members 10 vided with an operatingshaft 40 journaled at its -ends in bearings 41 with which the framemembers are provided, one end of shaft 40 extending outwardly beyondframe member 10 and carrying a sprocket wheel 42 xed 85 thereto adaptedto be driven by the motory through a sprocket chain 95, as will be ex Asuitable bed knife 43 is pivotauy m011111- ed on a rod 44 supported atits ends in frame 90 members 10 and 11. For this purpose they rod isprovided at-its ends with lugs 45 and 46 through which loosely passbolts 47 and 48, respectively, the heads 49 and 50 of the bolts en aginthe under sides of the lugs 95 to hold t e be knife up in adjustedposition in the manner hereinafter more fully explained. The bolt 47extends loosely through a s uare lu 51 provided with a threadedk stu 52whic extends through frame member 100 land sei 10 and receives thenut 53for holding this lug securely to member 10.` A spring 54 is arranged onbolt 47 and is held compressed between lug 51 and the nut 55 threaded onthe upper end of the bolt. As more clearly shown in Fig. 4, nuts 56 arealso threaded on bolt 47 and are arranged as shown to engage the underside of lug 51' to limit upward axial movement of the bolt under theaction of spring 54 aiid to hold the latter compressed. The lug`45 isyieldingly held down against the bolt head 49 by the spring 57 arrangedon the bolt and held compressed between the nut 58 threaded on thelatter and the lug 45. The construction at the opposite side of themachine. is identical to that just described, the compressed spring 59corresponding to spring 57, acting to yieldingly hold lug 46 downagainst the bolt head 50, and the compressed spring A60, correspondingto spring 54, acting to yieldingly hold bolt 48 against downward axialmovement, bolt 48 passing loosely through a square lug 61 provided witha stud 62 extending through frame member 11 and threaded to receive thenut 63. From the foregoing it will be seen that the springs 54 and 60urge the bed knife 43 upwardly into cutting relation with the reel 39,and that by adjusting nuts 56 axially of the bolts, the relation betweenthe edges of the bed knife and the reel blades may be 'varied.n It willalso be seen that should occur i ingly hold theV bed knife againstmovement toward the reel blades from its position of adjustment and tocause the knife to 'follow exactly the axial adjusting movements ofbolts 47 and 48. VA suitable guard 64is disposed between frame members10 and 11 and extends downwardly'and rearwardly around the reel orcutting element 39 and is secured at'its lower edge to the bed knifemember.

by the screws 65, and at its u perend by the downwardly extending sideanges 66 which are secured to the 4side frame members by the bolts 67.The guard acts to direct the cut grass upwardly and forwardly away .fromthe machine.

- The machine is supported by. and driven forward upon rotation of thetraction means or roller 68 ydisposed rearwardly of the cutting reel 39and between frame members l0 and 11, and mounted on the operating shaft69 ioiwnaled at its ends in .bearings 72 secured to the side framemembers by bolts 74. One end of shaft 69 extends outwardly beyond framemember l0 and has fixed thereto includes a pair of spacedparallel'shafts 75 and 76 journaled at their,respective ends in casing23 and disposed on opposite sides of the axis of rotation of ear 38. Aclutch, designated generally in igure 1, by the reference numeral 77, iscarried by shaft 76 for clutching the same to the motor driven gear 38to drive the cuttingreel. The clutch includes a male member 78 looselymounted on shaft 7 6 and provided with gear 7 9 arran ed to mesh withgear 38. This clutch mem er 78 1s held against axial shifting along theshaft by the pin 80 extending through the shaft and en aging one endofthe hub of the member an by the collar 81 fixed on the shaft andengaging the other end of the hub. The clutch includes further thefemale part 82 splmed on shaft f6-by the key 83 and provided with thecollar 84 which has an annular groove cut therein forv loosely receivinga yoke 85 provided with diametri cally .arranged and outwardly extendingtrunnions 86. .As shown in Figure 6, the

`trunnions are engaged by the bifurcated4 ends ofthe clutch actuatingmember 87 which is fixed upon the upper end of a pin 89 by an integralsleeve 88. .The pin 89 is journaled for rotary movement in an upstandingbearing 90 which may be cast integrally with the lower part of thecasing 23, as shown in Figure 4.. An arm 91 is fixed on the lower end ofpin 89 which extends below casing 23 and provides means for causingrotary movement of the 4pin to effect engagement or disengagement oftheclutch `parts 78 and 82. The clutch part 82 is disengaged against theaction of the spring 92 arranged on the shaft 76y and held pressedbetween a collar 93` fixed thereon and the collar 84 of clutch part 82.-It is. to be noted that by 'reason of this construction there is nothrust --against the sides of the casingwhen the clutch part 82 is indriving engagement with clutch art 78 under the actio'n of spring 92,the co ars 81 and 93 acting as abutments and taking all of the thrust ofthe spring.A Upon disengagement of clutch parts 78 and 82, the shaft 76is permitted to come to resti As the yoke 87 is moved to cause thisment, the collar 93 is crowded against t e adjacent side of the casing23 since the oke' 87 is pivoted to the casing and' bears dipenl iiio 'ofcasing 23.

. the collar 93 through the'collar 84 and spring 76. Thus, when theclutch is disengaged and thelshat 76 has come to rest, all of the thrustof the Aspring is taken up by the casing so that the pressure of thespring is not counteracted through any relativelyv movable parts. Oneendl of shaft 76 extends outwardly beyond casing 23 and is provided withthe sprocket Wheel 94 xedthereon and connected by the sprocket chain 95to the sprocket wheel 42 of the cutting reel.

The mechanism for driving the traction 'roller 68 includes a clutch,designated gen-l erally in Figure 1 by the reference numeral 77 which isidentical in construction with the clutch 77 just described. The clutch77 thus comprises the male member|96 loosely mounted on shaft 75 andprovided with the gear 97 arranged in mesh with gear 38. The female part98 of the clutch 77 is splined on shaft 75 and is controlled by theclutch actuating member 99 which is similar tomember 87. Thevclutchactuating member 99 is fixed on the upper end of the pin 100)]'oulgnaledfor rotary movement in the upstanding bearing 101 cast integrally withlower art A spring 102 arrange on shaft 75 is held compressed betweenclutch p art 98` and the fixed collar 103. One endv of shaft 75 alsoextends outwardly beyond casing 23 and is provided with the fixedsprocket wheel 104 connected by the sprocket chain 105 to the sprocketwheel 70 iixe'd on the operating shaft 69 for the traction means orroller 68. f A clutch operating arm106,

-similar to arms 91, is fixed on the lower end of pin 100 which extendsdownwardly below casing 23, as shown. From thefore oing'it will be seenthat the clutches 77 and may be independently actuated by movement ofarms 91 and 106 to ,connect either or both A39 to the motor 32 for thetraction means 68 and the cutting reel operation thereby.

A guiding vhandle 107 is provided with brackets 108 secured thereto bybolts 109, the forward ends of the brackets being journaled on the-reduced ends more ,clearly shown' of the handle 107 at the lower endthereof and are pivotally mounted on a bolt 112 extending through thelatter, a second bolt 113 also extending through this end of handle107-and providing a stop. for members '110 and 111 for a purpose to behereinafter exf plained. A rod 114 is pivotally connected at its ends`to member 110 and the outer end of arm 106, the arrangement being suchthat member 110 and rod 114 provide a toggle mechanism operable when inits extendedfor dead-center position to hold clutchpart 98 out ofdriving engagement with clutchpart y 96, the bon 113 member`110 when itbeing arranged to'engage' isslightly beyond its extended or dead-centerposition to the left,

of the cross piece 21, as' in Figs..1 and 5. Lu-gs, 110 and 111 aredisposed on opposite sides as viewed in Fig. 1. The action of springl102 is such as to hold the member`110 in the position shown in Fig. 1with member 110 against the bolt or stop 113 after it has been lmanuallymoved to this position. For manually moving the member 110, a rod 1151spivotally connected Vat one end to member 110 and at its other end tolug 116. The lug 116 is formed integral with a manually operable lever117 loosely mounted on a bolt 118 which extends transversely through theupper end of handle 107fand'which supports the hand grips 119 and 120 aswell as a lever 123 and thelever 117 transversely thereof, and supportsthe hand grips 119 and 120 and lever 123 as well as the lever 117.Onjmovement of lever 117v to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4,

it will be seen that rod 115 will be placed under compression to causemovement of the toggle mechanism comprising-.member 1'10 and rod 114past its dead-center\position to the right, vas viewed, in Fig. 1,thereby perl mitting instantaneous engagement of clutch part 98withclutch part 96 under the action of spring 102. The actuating meansfor lever 91 connected with clutchr 77 is similar1 in constructionandmanner of operation to that just described for clutch 77.', andincludes the rod 121 pivotallyy connected at Yits end to the outer endof' arm91 and lug 111 and forming witlrthe latter a toggle mechanism,and

ja' rod 122 pivotally connected at itsends to vlug 111 and toa lever'123similar to lever 117 and arranged loosely on bolt 118 between handle'107and that the levers 117 and 123constitute manually-operable means forcausing'independent grip 120. It will thus be seen.

rotary movementof pins 89 and 100 and the l clutch-actuating members 87and 99 fixed thereto, respectively. The manually-,operable 'f means justdescribed for controlling the clutch operating arms 91 `and 106 is shownmore in detail and claimed in my copending applicaion Sv. N. 109,491,led May 17th, 1926. The forward ends of the frame members 10 and 11 areprovided with suitable casters 124 and 125 of any suitable constructionand which are swiveled in brackets 126 and 127,

respectively, fixed to the frame members by bolts 128 and 129. Asindicated in Fig. 1,

through which pass bolts 134, these bolts passing through thesideframefmembers and I I providing means for holding straps 132y inassembled relation with respect to the latter and for verticaladjustment; The roller 130 is aligned with casters 124 and the roller68, and operates to pack down the earth andthe stubs of cut grass afterthe cutting reel 39 has passed over the saine.

For the purpose of supporting handle 107 and absorbingthe vibrationswhich are ordinarily 'transmitted thereto from the motor, a rod 147 ispivotally connected at one end to the crank case of the engine by a pin148. The other end of rod 147 is passed loosely through a lug ,149 xedto the handle and y relatively stiff springs 150 are arranged betweenopposite sides of lug 149 and nuts 151 fixed on` the rod 147. Thearrangement is such that any pivotal movement of the handle about theaxis of the cross piece 21 causes compression of one or the other ofsprings 150, the springs thereby absorbing the shocks or vibrationswhich would ordinarily be communicated to the handle and yieldinglholding the latter in elevated'position. T -e construction justdescribed is shown more in detail and claimed in my copendingapplication referred to above.

A lever 152 may be pivotally connected to the handle at the point 153and connected through a suitable flexible connection 154 to thecarbureter of the engine Jfor controlling the same in the well knownmanner.

As indicated in Fig'. 4, suitable guards 155 pieces 18 and 21 andsecured thereto at its ends by the bolts 159.

From the foregoing it will be Jseen that a power mower has been providedwhich is comparatively simple in construction and operation and whereinthe traction means 68 andthe cutting element or reel 39 may be readilyconnected or disconnected to and from the motor. A I

While but one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described,of course v arious changes may be made` such as in the size, shape andarran ement of the parts with-v out departing from t e spirit of theinvention or the scope of the claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A power driven lawn mower including a motor, a. cutting element,traction means and clutch'cont'rolled driving connections between themotor and the cutting element and the traction means, a casing enclosingthe vclutch controlled driving connection, each clutch controlleddriving connection including a shaft mounted on said casing,la pair ofclutch' members mounted on the shaft, a coll'ar fixed to the shaft andabuttinglone of the clutch members but spaced from t e adjacent portionof the casing, a spring urging the i clutch members into engagement, acollar fixed to the shaft and affording an abutment for said spring, anda thrust bearing on the casing with which said abutment collar is 70mission casing thereon, a ear in the casing 75 connected to the motor toe driven thereby and transmission means in the casing for independentlyconnecting the gear to the cutting element and traction means to drivethe sameby the motor, said transmission means 4 consisting of twosimilar units, each includ ing a shaft joui'naled in the casing, aclutching element splined to the shaft and a combined gear wheel andclutching element loosely mounted on the shaft and meshing g5 with saidmotor driven gear.

3. In a power driven lawn mower, the coinbination of a frame having acutting element, tract-ion means, a motor anda transmission casingthereon, a gear in the casing connected to the motor to be driventhereby and transmission meansin the casing for independently connectingthe gear tot e cutting element and traction means to drive the same bythe motor, said transmission means consisting of two similar units, eachincluding a clutch and means for actuating the clutch including a pinmounted in a bearing on the casing and disposedfor rotation about anaxis inl a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of theshaft', and an element mounted on the pin and engaging the clutch.

4. In a power` drivenlawn mower, the combination of a frame having acutting element,

traction means, a motor and a transmission casing thereon, a gear in thecasing connected to the motor to be-driven thereby and transmissionmeans in the casin for independent- I ly connecting the gear to t ecutting element and, traction means to drive the same by the motbr, saidtransmission means consisting of two similar units, each including ashaft journaled in the casing, a clutching element splined to the shaft,a combined gear wheel and clutching elements loosel mounted on v theshaft and meshing wit said motor. driven gear, a spring for urging theclutching elements into eigaging position and means for preventingeforce of the spring from exerting a thrust' upon the casing when 120the clutching elements are in engagingv position. k i

5. A transmission system for use with' a power` driven lawn mower of thetype having a motor and a cutting element and traction means" adapted tobe driven by the motor,

.said system consisting of a casing, a gear in thecasi adapted to beconnected to the motor to e driven thereb and means mthe casing' forindependent y jconnecting the 13 gear vto the cutting element andtraction means to drive' the same by the motor, said means consist-ingof a plurality of like units, eachincluding a shaft, a gear wheelloosely mounted on te shaft and meshing with said` motor driven ear,'andmeans on the shaft forelntching t e gear wheel t'o the shaft.

In witness whereof, I hereto ax my signature.

JOHN A. E. CARLSON.

